From the first time Olivia Pope strode down a White House hallway with purpose, hair blowing in her self-created wind, Gladiators have been coveting her look. Perfectly creased pants hemmed to the perfect length? Check. Elbow gloves that she removes dramatically while her team provides a rapid-fire status update? Check. Fabulous white coat that somehow remains spotless no matter how much blood she has on her hands? Check! I can’t front, even though I was rocking a white topper back in 2006, the fictional lead of Scandal had me pulling it out of the closet last winter.
And with The Limited’s new Scandal collection, I won’t be the only one serving OP realness. Lead actress Kerry Washington told WWD that it’s a collaboration between her, Scandal’s costume designer Lyn Paolo and The Limited’s design head: “It’s been really fun to have a voice at every stage of the production from picking buttons, choosing fabrics and weighing in on hair and makeup people.”
It will hit stores on Tuesday, not at all coincidentally two days before the start of the show’s fourth season, which I — and millions of other fans — am anxiously waiting. As someone who long ago gave up on the idea of appointment television and fully embraced her DVR, I am beyond excited to park in front of my television to watch not one, not two, but three shows created by a Black woman and featuring Black women! Show runner Shonda Rimes is officially the queen of ABC, with Grey’s Anatomy (yes, I still watch — and I bet more folks will now that they have discovered the awesome Jesse Williams), Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder (starring Viola Davis) taking over Thursday night.

And the Scandal line is just more proof of how far-reaching Shonda’s influence is. As befitting Pope, it’s full of fab capes, wide-leg pants, fitted blazers with asymmetrical details, luxe coats and even cozy wrap sweaters for when you want to drink an entire bottle of red wine by yourself and ignore the president’s phone calls (or, you know, watch Scandal and tweet). And, because contracts, she will actually wear some of the items on the show, mixed in with her usual pricy designer pieces.

I haven’t a clue what the price points will be, but don’t be shocked if you see me turning a D.C. street into my own runway wearing one of those capes. We might not all be White House fixers with quivering lips and relationship issues, but now we can dress like one!

The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of BET Networks.


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(Photo: ABC/VIVIAN ZINK)